Box Score STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton dropped a barnburner 17-8 in the series finale to No. 22 Midwestern State Saturday afternoon.
 
The teams were deadlocked in a 0-0 tie after three and half before the TexAnns struck first in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single from Randi Fentress to plate Shelby Tinklepaugh, who pinch ran for McKaylee Pittman who led off the inning with a single.
 
MSU would strike right back, however, with a five-run fifth inning capped off with a three-run blast to center field. They added four more in the top of the sixth to lead 9-1.
 
With Tarleton now three outs away from calling it an early finish, Katelyn Conlee popped her second home run of the season – a three-run blast – plating Amber Clifford and Tanner Pipkin to make it a 9-4 contest.
 
Tarleton added two more in the inning on a 2-RBI triple to the right field corner from Bailee Mauldin, bringing home Kelsey Latta and Arianna Rodriguez to make it a 9-6 contest.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Mustangs put the game out of reach with eight runs to go up 17-6.
 
The TexAnns went down swinging, however, as they added two more in the bottom of the seventh on a solo homer from Pipkin – her second in two games – and an RBI single from Mauldin.
 
Fentress took the loss, pitching 5.1 innings allowing eight runs – six earned – on 11 hits and two walks with just one strikeout. Conlee relieved her and allowed eight runs – four earned – on four hits and five walks.
 
Brenna Hennan came in to get the final two outs of the game, allowing one unearned run on one hit.
 
Latta, Mauldin and Pittman each had two hits on the day while Melody Mayse, Rodriguez, Clifford, Pipkin, Fentress and Conlee had one hit each. Rodriguez (3) and Pittman (2) were also the unfortunate recipients of MSU's five hit batters on the day.
 
The TexAnns will host Texas Woman's for a Tuesday night doubleheader at 4 p.m.